ANIMAL welfare charity Brooke will be holding a street collection with a difference in Melksham town centre next Saturday, October 21.

The London-based charity’s motivational and education officer, miniature Shetland, 14-year-old ‘Mini Fat Pony’, will be walking through the town - and she won't be horsing around.

She will be accompanied by Brooke’s chief executive officer Petra Ingram and one of the charity’s longest-serving fundraisers Roger Challoner Green from Trowbridge.

They will be helping to raise money to improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable working horses, donkeys and mules.

Petra Ingram said: “Mini Fat Pony and I are delighted to be joining our fundraisers for today’s street collection, we are so grateful to dedicated people like Roger who give up their time to support us.

“MFP is an avid fundraiser for Brooke and we’re hoping she will attract members of the public to come and say hello and hear more about our work.

“Brooke relies on the generosity of our volunteers and donations to fund our work. The money we collect will help us continue to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable working horses, donkeys and mules and the people who depend on them.”

Operating in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, Brooke reaches over two million working horses, donkeys and mules – more than any other organisation.

The international charity employs around 900 staff worldwide, including vets, animal welfare experts and development specialists.

Mr Green is a regular contributor to the Wiltshire Times Letters Pages, thanking the community for their generosity during his street collections. He has raised more than £15,000 during his collecting career.

He was recently planning on hanging up his collection tin and retiring after his many years of service but couldn’t bring himself to stop fundraising for the charity he loves.